Decorative covering for tubular casing



Cet. 29, 1963 D. KEND DECORATIVE COVERING FOR TUBULAR CASING Filed April 17, 1962 @QQ QCLQQQ; @Q QQQQQQ QEQLQQ-Q-QEQQ QEQQEQQQQEQ O OQSQEQLOCLQ INVENTOR .Dfw/@Kava United States Patent O 3,168,767 DECRATIVE COVERING FR TUBULAR CASENQ David Kend, Kings Point, NSY., assigner to Park Eieetrochemical Corporation, Flashing, NSY., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 17, 1962, Ser. No. i3,074 2 Claims. (Qi. 22d-9) This application relates to an improved decorative covering for metal tubular articles, as exemplified by lipstick casings.

-In the past, it has been relatively difficult to apply permanent decorations to metal casings, such as the casings of lipstick containers. Embossment of a metal surface is relatively difficult, and the use of other known processes for decorative purposes has also not always been satisfactory.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved decorative covering for tubular metal articles, which covering may be readily embossed and otherwise decorated, and which may be readily applied to the article. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved decorative covering which may be applied in the form of a Wrapping to the turbe, with the join-t formed by the overlying of the wrapping being substantially concealed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the in- I vention, the wrapper consists of metal foil having an adhesive backing. The wrapper may be considered as having side zones. The wrapper is wrapped around a tubular article, such as a lipstick case, with the side zones of the wrapper overlapped to define radially inner and outer side zones and with the backing abutting and adhered to the article except that the backing of the outer side Zone abuts and is adhered to the inner side zone. Any suitable adhesive backing may be used, such as a thermosetting adhesive in the form of a iilm or otherwise applied to the metal foil. The thickness of the backing or adhesive is very small in comparison to the thickness of the metal foil.

Also in accordance with the invention, the foil has outward embossments except at the inner side zone. rlhese embossments have a selected uniform depth over the main body of the foil extending from the unembossed inner side zone to a point adjacent the outer side Zone. From this point, the embossments gradually decrease in depth to a uniform second depth at the outer side zone. The combined depth of the side zones and of the embossments at the outer side Zone is substantially equal to the combined depth of the foil and of the embossments over the main body of the foil.

The pattern and spacing of the embossments are selected so that the pattern is completely uniform, in that the spacing between the first row of full size embossrnen-ts (next to the inner side zone) and the last row of reduced size embossments (adjacent the outer side edge) is the same as between any other pair of successive rows. A resulting 4.advantage of Ithe invention is that the outer perimeter of the embossments is substantially uniform. As a result, it is extremely diicult, without intensive scrutiny, to observe the overlapping outer side edge Zone of the wrapper.

I have found that with lthe above construction, a great variety of attractive decorations may be provided for tubular articles such as lipstick casings. Of course, it will be understood that `the invention is not limited to the decoration of such casings. Further, the invention is not limi-ted to the decoration of cylindrical casings, as the wrapper may also be applied to casings having elliptical or other uniform cross sections. i

Other objects and iadvantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in conjunccasing until the edge zone 23a overlaps edge zone 22a, as v ddd-8,2767 Patented Oct. 29, 1963 tion with the annexed drawing, in which a preferred embodiment ofthe invention is disclosed.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a lipstick case having an improved decorative covering in accordance with this invention.

F.G. 2 is an end elevation of the wrapper prior to its application to the casing.

FiG. 3 is a broken away outer plan View of the wrapping.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

yUpon reference to -the drawings in detail, it will be noted that they show `a wrapper 2d Iapplied to fa cylindrical metal cas-ing 1t). Said wrapper 20 comprises a rectangular sheet 2l of rnetal lfoil such as aluminum foil, preferably of uniform thickness, and having respective side edges 22 and 23. The edge zone of sheet 21 adjacent edge 22 is designated by the reference numeral 22a. The edge zone of sheet 21 adjacent edge 22 is designated by the reference numeral 22a. The edge Zone of sheet 21 adjacent the edge 23, and extending to a point designated by the reference character P, is desi-gnated by the reference numeral 23a.

Sheet 2l has an `adhesive backing 24 on the inner face thereof (shown only in FIG. 2 for convenience). The adhesive backing 24 is coextensive with sheet 21 and may optionally be in the form of an adhered thermosetting film. However, Ithe adhesive may be any suitable adhesive applied in any suitable way. The thickness of the backing 24, in comparison to the thickness of sheet 21, is extremely small and may be neglected for practical purposes in the numerical computations indicated below.

Said foil 21 has outwardly extending embossments designated generally by 'the reference numeral 25.. These embossments 25 may be formed by conventional punching or pressing operations. Optionally, also by conventional operations, the outer surface of the foil sheet 21 may have any appropriate color; and still further, optionally, the embossed areas 25 may be provided by conventional means with a different color. The option-al anodizing processes by which these color effects are produced are well known.

The embossmen-t 25 may have any de-sired shape. Illustratively, but without limitation thereto, the emboss- -ments are shown as 'being generally cylindrical so that the outer surfaces thereof are circular.

The embossments 25 are omitted in the edge zone 22a. Lateral-ly inwardly of zone 22a, the embossments 25 are of selected uniform iirst depth over the main body of the foil extending to a point Q spaced from but adjacent to point P. In the edge zone 23a, Ithe embossments 25a have a uniform second depth which is less than the iirst depth of the main embossments 25. From point Q to point P, the embossments 2511 gradually decrease in depth from the iirst uniform depth -to the second uniform depth.

The covering 2d is applied -to casing 10 by any suitable means, optionally by the application of heat so as to bond the adhesive layer 24 to the outer surface of casing it?. Specifically, Ithe edge zone 22a is first laid against the casing, and the covering is fur-ther wrapped around the shown in the drawing. Since the edge zone 22a is then located radially outwardly of edge zone 23a, edge zone 22a is designated as the outer edge zone and edge zone 23a is designated as the inner edge zone. The distance between the extreme edge-s 22 and 23 is selec-ted so that the edge 22 is located adjacent the first row of main embossments 25, designated by the reference numeral 25C. The distance between the embossni-ents 25e and the row of embossments 25a adjacent the edge 23 is the same as the distance between any other pair of successive rows of embossments. yIn like manner, :in other contguratiens of embossments, the overlap of the decorative covering is such that there is no discontinuity in pattern at the end of the overlap.

The height of the main embossments 2S and of the embossment group 25a is such that the thickness of the foil 21 together with the height of the embossments 2S is equal to the thickness of the edge layers 22a and 23a together with the height of the embossnients 25m. As a result, as clearly shown in FIG. 4, the decoratively covered tubing has a uniform outer periphery without any discontinuity such as would occur if the embossments were all of uniform height.

By -way of illustration, and without limitation thereto, the thickness of foil sheet 21 may be 0.003 inch, and the height of the main embossments 25 may be 0.005 inch. It follows that to achieve the desired structure, the height of the embossments 25a. is `0.002 inch. However, the invention is not limited to these particular dimensions.

The varying height of embossments 25h is chosen to accommodate for the radial gradually increasing in radial spacing of foil 21 from tube 10 between point Q, at which foil Z1 abuts tube lt), and point Q, at which the foil overlaps itself. The resulting clearance space between the .foil and tube is Idesignated by the reference numeral 9. The varying height of embossments 25b thereby assures the uniform outer periphery of the decoratively covered tubing assembly.

By Way of illustration, FG. 1 shows a lipstick Sti, the casing -10 of ywhich is covered by the decorative covering 21 and having end bands 11 and i2. Above the band 12 is a further movable 4casing section having a further covering 296 and having an upper end band 13. The details of the lipstick 3i) are conventional and need not be described in dull.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the lipstick 30 has a highly decorative embossed covering which could not be obtained by conventional means for decorating metal tubing. It will further be apparent that the covering 2t) may be mass produced economically, either in individual sheets or in large sheets which are cut to size, and will further be apparent that the decorative covering may be readily applied to the tubes required to make up the lipstick or other article which is to be ornamented.

While I have 'disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, and have indicated various changes, additions and omissions which may be rnade therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made in the invention without departing from the scope and spi-rit thereof.

I claim;

l. Decorative :covering for a metal tubular article, comprising a wrapper of metal foil having an adhesive backing and having side zones, said wrapper being Wrapped around said article with said side zones overlapped to define radially inner and outer side zones and with said backing abutting and adhered to said article except that the backing of the outer side zone abuts and is adhered to said inner side zone, the thickness of said backing being very small in comparison to the thickness of said metal foil, said zfoil having outward embossrnents except at said inner side zone, said embossrnents having selected uniform depth over the main body of said foil extending from said unembossed inner side zone to adjacent said outer side zone, said embossments then gradually decreasing in depth to a uniform Second depth at said outer side zone, the combined depth of said side Zones and the embossments at said outer side zone being substantially equal to the combined depth of said foil and embossments over the main body of said foil, the embossments having a uniform outer periphery.

2. Decorative article comprising a metal tube having a uniform periphery, a wrapper of metal foil having an adhesive backing and having side zones, said wrapper being wrapped around said tube with said side zones overlapped to denne radially inner and outer side zones and with said backing abutting and adhered to said tube except that the backing of the outer side zone abuts and is adhered to -said inner side zone, the thickness of said backing being very small in comparison to the thickness of said metal foil, said foil having outward enibossments except at said inner side zone, said embossments having selected uniform depth over the main body of said foil extending from said unernbossed inner side zone to adjacent said outer side zone, said embossments then gradually decreasing in depth to a uniform second depth at said outer side zone, the combined depth of said side Zones and the embossments at said outer side zone being substantially equal to the combined depth of said foil and embossments over the main body of said foil, said embossments having a uniform outer periphery.

References 'Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,090,435 waiavogei Aug. 17, 1937 2,152,323 Mooi-e Mar. 2s, .1939 2,947,459 Pregent Aug. 2, 1960 

1. DECORATIVE COVERING FOR A METAL TUBULAR ARTICLE, COMPRISING A WRAPPER OF METAL FOIL HAVING AN ADHESIVE BACKING AND HAVING SIDE ZONES, SAID WRAPPER BEING WRAPPED AROUND SAID ARTICLES WITH SAID ZONES OVERLAPPED TO DEFINE RADIALLY INNER AND OUTER SIDE ZONES AND WITH SAID BACKING ABUTTING AND ADHERED TO SAID ARTICLE EXCEPT THAT THE BACKING OF THE OUTER SIDE ZONE ABUTS AND IS ADHERED TO SAID INNER SAID ZONE, THE THICKNESS OF SAID BACKING BEING VERY SMALL IN COMPARISON TO THE THICKNESS OF SAID METAL FOIL, SAID FOIL HAVING OUTWARD EMBOSSMENTS EXCEPT AT SAID INNER SAID ZONE, SAID EMBOSSMENTS HAVING SELECTED UNIFORM DEPTH OVER THE MAIN BODY OF SAID FOIL EXTENDING FROM SID UNEMBOSSED INNER SAID ZONE TO ADJACENT SAID OUTER SIDE ZONE, SAID EMBOSSMENTS THEN GRADUALLY DECREASING IN DEPTH TO A UNIFORM SECOND DEPTH AT SAID OUTER SIDE ZONE, THE COMBINED DEPTH OF SAID SIDE ZONES AND THE EMBOSSMENTS AT SAID OUTER SIDE ZONE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE COMBINED DEPTH OF SAID FOIL AND EMBOSSMENTS OVER THE MAIN BODY OF SAID FOIL, THE EMBOSSMENTS HAVING A UNIFORM OUTER PERIPHERY. 